Buffalo Bills News - November 30, 2003

Giants, Bills in Pride Bowl [5:02 AM]Middletown Times Herald Record reports:
'Chances are the winner will be the team that brings the healthiest mind set. After all, these clubs have proven focus problems. Buffalo's minus-11 turnover differential is the worst in the AFC; the Giants' minus-eight is tied for the worst in the NFC.'

NFL Insider [4:59 AM]Fort Worth Star Telegram reports:
'Buffalo is paying for two big mistakes: the hiring of Kevin Gilbride as offensive coordinator before last season and underestimating the value of receiver Peerless Price before this season. The blame should -- and will -- fall on head coach Gregg Williams, who is in the final year of his contract.'

Hey, we've heard this one before [4:57 AM]Pittsburgh Post Gazette reports:
'The sounds from Buffalo lately are similar to those heard here in Kevin Gilbride's second season as offensvie coordinator.'

November 29, 2003

Bills have Giant problems, too [10:48 AM]Bergen Record reports:
'In many ways, Buffalo's misery is eerily similar to that of the Giants. The Bills are minus-11 in turnover ratio, even worse than the Giants' minus-10. Much like the Giants and Kerry Collins, the Bills have a former Super Bowl quarterback in the midst of a subpar season.'

Giants odds and ends [10:48 AM]Bergen Record reports:
'"It's invisible, it seems, this year for us," Barber said. "It's hard to put your finger on where it went because we have the same personnel, albeit the offensive line has changed a little bit. Skill playerwise, we have the same personnel. We're not getting that one block, that one extra step needed to catch a pass, that little extra effort. Whatever that reason is, it's not happening and it's causing our offense to stagnate a little."'

Giants' slide may cost Fassel [8:59 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'Fassel's teams have made the playoffs three times in his six previous seasons. In 2000, after consecutive losses and a 7-4 start, he guaranteed the Giants would make the playoffs. New York reeled off five straight victories and didn't lose again until Baltimore beat the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV. Last week, before falling to Tampa Bay, he promised that people would never see him sweat. "It's guaranteed," he said.'

Radio reporters cross some ethical lines with Bills' Donahoe [8:57 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'It was surprising Monday afternoon to hear WNSA-FM news reader Ricky Jay preface a Donahoe sound bite by saying that the Bills general manager didn't feel he deserved any of the blame for the Bills' season. Then he played a sound bite of Donahoe saying, "It has nothing to do with me, it has to do with the team, the coaches, Mr. Wilson and the fans." WNSA listeners never heard the question that led to the sound bite. If they had, they would have heard Donahoe responding to a question from Channel 2's Stu Boyar about how disappointed he was, not if he deserved any blame. Jay's packaging was totally misleading, lazy and journalistically unsound.'

Giants share Bills' doleful record [5:20 AM]Rochester D&C reports:
'“That was two games, in our division, and it cost us, and you never know the ripple effect,” Fassel said. “That really shook the foundation of our confidence, took the wind out of our sails, and you don’t know how that affects another game and another game.”'

Haslett might fit Buffalo's bill [5:19 AM]Rochester D&C reports:
'Haslett was the Coach of the Year in 2000, but his critics point out the team’s late-season folding acts in 2001 (0-4 after a 7-5 start) and 2002 (0-3 after a 9-4 start). He also made an untimely decision early in last week’s 33-20 loss at Philadelphia and was subjected to a level of media and fan criticism that generally is reserved for coaches on their way out.'

Giants Try to End Funk; Fans Will Bring in Noise [5:18 AM]New York Times reports:
'In two games since, the Giants have lost two road games and are not expecting the words "happy" and "homecoming" to be associated with their game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday at Giants Stadium. To listen to a few Giants players, most notably receiver Amani Toomer, they are expecting surliness befitting a street mob.'

Fassel's a winner, says Herm [5:17 AM]New York Daily News reports:
'"We know that is the business and I think how we conduct ourselves when we go through that is very, very important. Not only for yourself, but for the integrity of the National Football League and what you stand for as a football coach, because that is part of the deal and we know that."'

William an ordinary Joseph [5:16 AM]New York Daily News reports:
'"William has to show me that he can play better," Giants coach Jim Fassel said after benching the rookie in favor of recently re-signed Frank Ferrara in Monday's loss to the Bucs. "He just hasn't had the production in the game. You always need to relate it to how many plays (because) you can't compare production if one guy played nine plays and the other played 59. But those nine plays, you need to do some things - tackles and things like that."'

No shocker: no Shockey [5:15 AM]New York Daily News reports:
'Shockey didn't even attend practice, staying inside to get treatment on his left knee, which he reinjured in his ill-advised pregame warmup Monday night. Giants coach Jim Fassel said Shockey has "a chance to play - we'll just have to take it day by day." He said it's possible he could rule Shockey out if he's not able to practice today.'

No green light for Shockey [5:14 AM]New York Post reports:
'Fassel chalked up Shockey's bonehead move to the 23-year-old's personality. "I told him [on Monday], 'Just don't do much,' " Fassel said. "'Just relax and go out and stretch out a little bit and jog around a little bit.'"'

Herm stands by Fassel [5:13 AM]New York Post reports:
'"When you're going through some bad times, they get you," Edwards said. "That's the way it is. People are going to take shots at you for everything you did bad, and they forget about all the good things you did. They do it to everyone. They're going to do it to me, they've done it to all of them."'

Low Numbers Bench High Pick Joseph [5:12 AM]New York Newsday reports:
'The most startling entry, though, is not a zero. It is the one for Monday's game against the Buccaneers: INA. That's short for inactive. That was not what the Giants had in mind when they used the 25th overall pick on Joseph, a defensive tackle who was to give them depth in the front four and be groomed to replace Keith Hamilton.'

Herm Knows Fassel's Fix [5:11 AM]New York Newsday reports:
'"You can't take what people say personally," Edwards said, "because if you do, it will eat at you ... You can't let people back you into a corner and start getting out of character, and I don't think Jim will do that. He is a good football coach, and he will coach again. Whether it is with the Giants or whoever it may be, he will coach again."'

Shockey aches to give fans cause to cheer [5:10 AM]Newark Star Ledger reports:
'"I'd be upset, too, if my team wasn't winning and wasn't performing and I had to pay all that money for seats -- not (including) food or parking. They got something to make noise about."'

Jets' Edwards feels for Fassel [5:09 AM]Asbury Park Press/Home News Tribune reports:
'"Everyone wants to be a champion, every city wants to have a champion," said Edwards, whose 4-7 team plays host to 9-2 Tennessee in a Monday night game at Giants Stadium. "People get upset, but as a ball coach you know that and that's why for a football coach we are a weird lot."'

Shockey, Petitgout miss practice Friday [5:08 AM]AP reports:
'``Both of them weren't going to be able to do much today, so I left them inside to get treatment and stay off their feet,'' Fassel said. ``Both of them probably still have a chance to play, but we're going to have to take it day-by-day.'''

November 28, 2003

Injury relegates Moulds to secondary role [5:29 PM]AP reports:
'"I want to do everything I can to get out there and play," Moulds said as the Bills (4-7) prepare to face the New York Giants (4-7) at the Meadowlands on Sunday. "Even if it's to get out there and dictate coverage a little bit because (opponents) don't know that I'm fully hurt, so I can help other guys get open."'

Simonton added to roster [5:28 PM]AP reports:
'In two games, Simonton has gained four yards on two carries this season. He replaces receiver Sam Aiken on the roster, who was placed on injured reserve on Wednesday with a knee injury.'

Bills Add Simonton To 53-Man Roster [4:30 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
'Simonton, who appeared in two games earlier in the season, fills the roster vacancy that was created when wide receiver Sam Aiken was placed on Injured Reserve earlier this week.'

Bills Scouting Report [3:25 PM]NewYorkGiants.com reports:
'Despite these deficiencies, the Bills play hard on both offense and defense. The last three losses - to the Cowboys, Texans and Colts - were by a total of nine points.'

Bills are Thankful [3:24 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
'Terrence McGee: Being able to play in the NFL.'

Bledsoe ready to play despite feeling `fuzzy' [3:23 PM]AP reports:
'Bledsoe was in an upbeat mood Friday, joking that the fuzziness allow him to play better than he has during a nine-game slump in which he's thrown eight interceptions and three touchdowns. ``Maybe I'm off just enough to make some better decisions,'' Bledsoe said, smiling.'

Ask Brian Moorman [3:22 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
The third-year punter has been outstanding for the Bills in 2003. His 45.5-yard average ranks third in the NFL and his 37.5 net ranks fifth. In weeks 12 and 13, he had a total of eight punts downed inside-the-20 (four per game). The club single-game record is five in-the-20 and no Bills player has ever had four in consecutive games. In addition, three of his six punts vs. Indy were downed inside-the-10, including one at the 1-yard line.